4 breweries to see in Hanover: Out with Sara

Long ago, a bar called KClinger's was the go-to for craft beer lovers, fewer in numbers but ever as passionate. It had two locations, one in Etters and the other in Hanover.

KClinger's is long since gone, and it's interesting to imagine what it might be today had it survived.

Craft beer has returned to Hanover, however, now in the form of four breweries. It was time for me to check them out.

Our first stop was to Warehouse Gourmet Bistro & Brewpub. Park in the gravel lot across the street, and you can walk to your first three stops. Choose the restaurant seating downstairs or, like we did, the brewpub upstairs. We perched ourselves at the petite bar and dove into the beer list, which also was illustrated in chalk on the brewery door (more on that in a bit).

We chose samplers, because we wanted the chance to choose as much as possible. I won't break down each of the beers (you can always follow me on Untappd to see what I'm drinking), but Warehouse has a rotating selection of 12 beers on eight taps.

The customer favorite is the Leggy Blonde Imperial Blonde Ale, which clocks in at a high 7.5 percent ABV. It's a full-bodied ale that's pretty boozy -- which is why it surprised me as the favorite -- but it was really quite good.

Our favorite was the Sil Vous Plait, a Belgian Pale Ale, which was delightfully refreshing, with a slight sweetness from the Belgian yeast.

Another top choice was the Maltella Porter (like, Nutella, get it? I didn't. Intern Jimi to the rescue). Dark in color with a tasty malt profile that has a hint of chocolate hazelnut (thus the name).

It's worth noting I selected Warehouse Gourmet as our first stop due to its food menu, because you can't drink beer all afternoon without a proper meal. Later, I heard more than one person refer to Warehouse as "the best food in Hanover," and while I don't have anything else to compare it to, we weren't disappointed.

I ordered the Spicy Red Curry Coconut Chicken over Jasmine Rice ($12) from the All Day Entrees, and fresh red bell peppers accompanied it. It wasn't particularly spicy (but I've been known to say "it could be hotter"), but the coconut created a lovely balance of flavor. The chicken was tender and perfectly cooked, and the fresh vegetables and rice provided a perfect -- and delicious -- portion.

Warehouse Gourmet's all day menu is largely sandwiches, salads and wraps, though after 4 p.m., a dinner menu is offered downstairs, and a pub menu is available upstairs.

Just before we leaving, we got to talking with the bartender, who gave us a quick tour of the tiny 10-gallon brewery, located practically in arm's length from my seat at the bar. Head Brewer Warren Hendrickson got his start at Lake Placid Pub & Brewery in Lake Placid, NY before a stint at Flying Dog in Frederick, Md. Hendrickson told us he missed working in a smaller scale brewery, and that eventually led him to Warehouse.

Warehouse Gourmet is open 11:30 a.m. to midnight Tuesday through Saturday.

Having had our appetites properly sated, it was time to try more beer. While checking in brews at Warehouse, I noticed our friend and co-Harrisburg Beer Week producer, Chelsie, was just nearby at the next stop on our list: Miscreation Brewing Company.

We walked just a couple blocks to find the space, and as soon as I walked in, I knew I had seen it before.

Thought Dan Kulick didn't find the space right for his needs, Jason and his brother, Mark, did. The downstairs is a large seating area, two cornerstone booths decorated in a mosaic of skateboard deck pieces. Walk up the metal stairs to the mezzanine for a seat at the bar, where we met Chelsie and her friend, also on a day trip exploring Hanover brews.

Jason lined up samples of everything available on tap that day, and we began sharing tastes.

The Stambaughs really like hops -- and so do I. I started with the PowderKeg IPA, which I really enjoyed. It's dry-hopped with a boatload of Citra hops, so this was palate-pleasing for me.

Jason's favorite is the ReCkleSs Imperial IPA, a 9% ABV double IPA with an impressive 130 IBUs, or International Bittering Units. That's a lot.

I also really enjoyed the Spweach Impwediment Peach Ale, a perfect summer refresher at just 4.8% ABV.

The Conjuring Cascadian Dark Ale - a.k.a. a black IPA - was Intern Jimi's favorite, and though growler fills aren't usually available because of available beer supply (the Stambaughs brew on a 1 bbl system), this was on its way out, so Jason kindly obliged.

The [dey-lahyt] Blonde Ale was another decent choice, especially for those newer to craft beer. Miscreation also had on tap MUSH MOUFF, a wheat wine fermented with peaches and raspberries and finished with brown sugar and cinnamon. This powerful beauty was a favorite of Chelsie's, but much too sweet for my palate.

If you visit Hanover, I implore you to visit on a Friday or Saturday evening so you can check out Something Wicked. Located pretty much around the corner from Miscreation (reminding me of my trip to Asheville, NC, where this was commonplace), I talked to co-owner Bill Seidler about my trip and he let us swing by in-between brewing to chat and share his beers.

The space is part of a renovated old building, and a moderately sized tasting bar is the centerpiece, with tables and chairs wrapping the perimeter. Seidler said they fill up most nights (they're only open those two days), and an expansion is in the works within the building to accommodate bigger crowds.

I try not to make sweeping comments like "best beer in Hanover," but Something Wicked is a must-visit.

All five of the beers I sampled I rated a "4" or higher on Untappd. The first was an American IPA called Sinful, a Something Wicked Flagship. I can see why -- loaded to the gills with Citra hops, this is a must for fellow hopheads.

The second Flagship was Virtue, a delightful apricot Kolsch, a perfect summer refresher.

Next we tried the Chastity, a session IPA racked over fresh mangos and dry hopped with cascade hops. It comes in at a lower 5.6% ABV (some would argue that's not quite low enough to be a session, but I'll allow it). Another flavorful, well-bodied brew: 4 stars.

The Wicked Weizen is a summer seasonal hefeweizen brewed in the traditional German style.

Finally, we sampled another Flagship, Chaos, a chocolate coconut stout, brewed to taste like a liquid Mounds candy bar. Another winner for me, and while I like stouts, the sweet ones can often be too much for me.

Something Wicked brews 19 beers, including several seasonals. They also offer a small snack menu with items like pretzels, flatbread pizzas and other snackable items.

Something Wicked is open 4-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Last on our list was Aldus Brewing Company, and for that we had to walk back to our car at Warehouse and drive a short distance. No problem (that's what designated driving interns are for).

Aldus is pretty low frills, but was already boasting a pretty nice after work crowd. We grabbed seats at the bar and ordered a sampler of what was on tap.

Aldus' goal is to make beer approachable. They offer an American Blonde Ale, which they also bottle, and they are also planning to bottle the Olde Factory Amber and Wee Dame, a Scottish Wee Heavy ale.

The Knot Session IPA was probably our favorite, but as you can see our palates definitely defer to hops. Aldus also was offering a Radler, the traditional German mix of beer and sparkling lemonade. In Aldus' version, it combines their Blonde with lemon soda, a perfect answer to a hot summer's day.

Aldus also features a small menu, including pizzas (ingredients sourced locally), hummus, Brisket & Beer Cheese Nachos and more.

Aldus Brewing Company is open from 3-9 p.m. Wednesday through Friday and noon to 9 p.m. Saturday.